Vent plug closure



21, 1953 H. L. BERING ET AL 2,635,784

VENT PLUG CLOSURE Filed May 11, 1950 HORACE LBER/NG THOMAS P CALLAHAN INVENTOR.

BY I g T ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 21, 1953 VENT PLUG CLOSURE Horace L.

Bering, Decatur, Ill., and Thomas P. Q Callahan, Springfield, Mass.

Application May 11, 1950, Serial No, 161,406

1 Claim.

This invention relates to vent plug closures of the type used in steel containers for shipping acids such as sulphuric acid, nitric acid, and the like, and has for its main object the elimination of hazards attending the leakage and destruction of acids in the shipping and storage of the same, over long distances and periods of time, particularly in high temperatures. In containers for'the shipment of acidssubstantial pressure is built up within the containers due to gases formedby the acid contents, and unless such pressure is relieved there exists a constant hazard, in that improperly vented containe'rs often leak acid,.andunder certaintemperatures will eiiplode, thus-rendering the hamdling thereof by'the'workmen extremely dangerous.

This invention contrives to accomplish the safe and practical venting of containers for shipping acids, while at the same time insuring against leakage of acids both in transit and in storage.

It is here pointed out that although this application sets forth a venting disc of similar character to that covered in a previous application bearing Serial No. 152,592, filed in the United States Patent Ofiice on March 29, 1950, still the porous venting disc of the instant application is of different and improved character, its use being effected by but one acid resistant sealing ring positioned in co-operative unitary assembly with the venting disc.

The peculiar structure and arrangement of parts embodied in this invention disclose a principle not heretofore used, and further novelty will appear from reference to the following specification and the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a top plan view, the dotted lines indicating the sealing gasket shown in Figure 5.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view, the dotted line indicating the annularly disposed square groove adapted for seating the retainer ring shown in Figure 8.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken centrally through the invention from corner to corner of the hexagon.

Figure 4 is an elevational view of the porous vent plug showing especially the annular groove adapted to engage the sealing gasket shown in Figure 5.

Figure 5 is a plan view showing the sealing gasket.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6--6 of Figure 5,

Figure 7 is a plan view showing the retainer ring, and,

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8--8 of Figure '7."

Referring in detail to the drawings and having reference first to Figure 3 the vent plug closure Hi has the flanged portion ll surrounding the upper part of the externally threaded body portion [2, the threads 13 thereof being adapted forengagement with correspondingthreads provided in known drum type containers for acid. p

The depending circularly formed sleeve portion i below said threads 13 is ofsubstantially narrower diameter than said sleeve portion and pros vides baflie means for shielding the porous venting disc l5 from splashing acid when the cone tainer is in motion, as, for. example,- whenthe same isbeing transported. 1

The outlet port It opens out from the inverted well opening I! which is of somewhat larger diameter than the outlet port [6 in order to provide the annular seat 18 for the purpose of seating the top periphery of the venting disc l5, held in such seated engagement by the retainer ring Ill removably engaging the annularly disposed square groove 28 in the well opening H.

The retainer ring I9, thus positioned, engages the bottom periphery of the venting disc 15, and so functions to retain the venting disc in proper position as illustrated.

Now, in inserting the venting disc [5 into position in the well opening ll, the sealing gasket 2| is first placed in the annularly disposed round groove 22 of said disc, and, as the gasket 2| is made of flexible, acid resistant material-neoprene, for exampleit enables the disc [5 with the gasket 2| positioned thereon as described, to be pressed into the well opening [1 and into the position shown in Figure 3, in which position the gasket 2| is compressed radially outwardly against the surrounding wall surface of the well opening I! to effect a complete acid-tight seal against any escape of acid, either by seepage or capillary action.

Then, the retainer ring I9 is positioned to engage the square groove 20 by means of applying a suitable torc wrench to insertably engage the two apertures I9A in the opposing ends |9B to draw said ends IQB together, thus reducing the diameter of the ring l9 so that it can then be placed in register with the groove 20 in the well opening ll, the wrench hold released from said apertures ISA, thereby allowing the ring 19 to expand to its normal diameter to engage the groove 20 and keep the position of the disc 15 for the practical application and use of the invention.

It will appear obvious to those skilled in the 3 art that the sealing capacity of the porous vent disc of this invention is dependent on and effected by its unitary assembly with the flexible sealing gasket 2| only, in compressed contact with the annular wall of the well opening [1, and that no other member or part of the device effects the sealing capacity thereof nor is necessary thereto, the retaining ring 19 simply serving to keep the said porous venting disc I5 and its sealing gasket 2| from dislodgement, which might result from extreme vibration or jolting in the handling or transporting of the containers in which this invention is mounted.

Of course, the porous venting disc of the present type maybe of different carbon, Carborundum or similar materials suitable for the purpose, and may also be varied as to density de: pending on the type of acids carried in the containers and, too, with respect to the venting of various types and volumes of gases therethrough. It is here noted that modification and change may be made within the scope of the appended claims, and that the illustrated provision and structure do not constitute a limitation.

What is claimed is:

A vent plug closure as herein described comprising in combination a substantially cylindrically shaped and flanged body portion having thread means exteriorly thereon for removably engaging corresponding thread means in a container for acids, 2. flat round pro-shaped and relatively shallow brittle porous venting member having an annularly disposed groove adapted for'removable engagement with the body portion, a flexible sealing ring mounted in said annularv groove and adapted for compressed engagement with the inner wall of said cylindrically shaped body portion, an annular groove in said body portion, a retaining ring adapted for fixed though removable engagement with said annular groove, a skirt portion integral with and depending below said body portion that surrounds the venting member.

HORACE L. BERING. THOMAS P. CALLAHAN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 196,042 Robertshaw Oct. 9, 1877 1,190,654 Kammerhofi July 11, 1916 1,275,441 Johnston Aug. 13, 1918 1,275,598 Probst Aug. 13, 1918 1,476,300 Larson Dec. 4, 1923 1,683,338 Evinrude Sept. 4, 1928 1,940,601 McCrery et a1. Dec. 19, 1933 2,055,602 Dodge Sept. 29, 1936 2,095,460 Swords Dec. 12, 1937 2,244,395 Hill June 3, 1941 2,298,938 Griffin Oct. 13, 1942 2,314,330 Eshbaugh et a1. Mar. 23, 1943 2,366,428 Scott Jan.' 2, 1945 2,423,173 Brady et a1 July 1, 1947 2,492,006 Raybould' Dec. 20', 1949 2,496,883 McKalip Feb. 7, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 324,418 Great Britain Jan. 30, 1930 507,941 Great Britain June 23, I939 

